By coincidence, I was reading this in tandem with Katy Tur's book. The contrast is startling and every page made me nostalgic for the days when we hadBy coincidence, I was reading this in tandem with Katy Tur's book. The contrast is startling and every page made me nostalgic for the days when we had a competent Commander in Chief.

Mastromonaco was President Obama's deputy chief of staff but the book is not really a memoir of her time in the White House. She shares a number of stories from the president's Senate days, campaign, and two terms, but she also is trying to write an advice book.

I am 46, so far outside her target audience of 15-25. I think a young woman reading this book might be inspired to pursue a career in politics, and her general advice about the early stages of a career is useful, albeit nothing particularly new.

Maybe a 3.5. I'd be inclined to give this to a teenager or college student who is considering politics....more

This is maybe a 3.5. I read it for book club and doubt I would have picked it up otherwise. I don't watch TV news and didn't know who Katy Tur was, deThis is maybe a 3.5. I read it for book club and doubt I would have picked it up otherwise. I don't watch TV news and didn't know who Katy Tur was, despite her prominence in the Trump coverage.

Pros: Tur is a decent writer with an eye for detail and I got a sense of what it was like to witness Trump's campaign antics up close. She veers into her family's history in journalism and I found that interesting.

Cons: Reliving the Trump campaign and remembering how racist and xenophobic he was from the beginning. Hearing the 90s EMF song in my head every time I picked up the book....more

I don't read a ton of political memoirs but my mother-in-law gave me this as a gift and I am so glad she did. I didn't know anything about Sen. WarrenI don't read a ton of political memoirs but my mother-in-law gave me this as a gift and I am so glad she did. I didn't know anything about Sen. Warren's background or how she developed her policy recommendations. She makes a convincing argument that our system is not only rigged to serve the rich, it is rigged to reduce everyone else's economic power over time. We are fortunate to have her in the Senate.

This book covers her early life and career, her work to build the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau, and her run for the Senate. She has a straightforward and folksy style of writing that sometimes comes across as a little over-the-top but I enjoyed her personal stories and her insight as an expert on bankruptcy. Worth a read if you are interested in progressive politics....more

Civil rights legend and U.S. Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga) shares his journey from farm boy and future preacher to nonviolent leader for social justice. He wCivil rights legend and U.S. Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga) shares his journey from farm boy and future preacher to nonviolent leader for social justice. He worked with a writer and artist to create this book, the first in a trilogy about his work and life. I don't typically enjoy graphic novels but this is the perfect format for Lewis' story and the drawings are detailed and powerful. Looking forward to the second two books....more

This book was touted as an explanation of Trump's America, but I didn't gain fresh insight into the people who preferred a KKK-approved candidate to aThis book was touted as an explanation of Trump's America, but I didn't gain fresh insight into the people who preferred a KKK-approved candidate to a highly qualified and experienced woman. Vance had a tumultuous childhood in Ohio as the son and grandson of Appalachian natives who moved to find work and escape poverty. He served in the Marines after high school, then went to college and Yale Law School. As Vance tells his story, he reiterates how it took a combination of hard work, luck, and random chance for him to leave his life in the working class. He also had his grandmother, who pushed him to succeed and provided stability when his parents could not.

He makes a couple of observations about social class, neither of which is new. Poor people don't just lack financial capital, they often lack the social capital to succeed. Also, while poor people often vote against their own interests, the elite liberals don't necessarily have a better handle on what will help solve poverty and related issues. We are too quick to put people in boxes. This isn't a fresh idea but I appreciated the way Vance used his own story to express his views; unfortunately, the book made the problems feel intractable.

It is no secret that I am Jewish and pro-Israel, but I have many concerns about Israeli policies. Sayed Kashua is a columnist for Ha'aretz and an IsraIt is no secret that I am Jewish and pro-Israel, but I have many concerns about Israeli policies. Sayed Kashua is a columnist for Ha'aretz and an Israeli Palestinian, and he writes with prickly humor about the challenges of living as a minority in his country. This collection of his columns didn't change my mind as much as it gave me new directions in which to think and research. No matter how deeply you believe in a Jewish state, it is impossible not to have a visceral reaction when Kashua's children are treated poorly by Jewish Israelis. This is a powerful book that humanizes a conflict so deep and bitter it is nearly a cliche. I gave it four stars because some of the columns fell flat for me. I don't know if that is his writing, the translation from Hebrew, or my inability to understand some of the humor and commentary because it is specific to Israel. My guess is the latter. Highly recommended....more

I read The New Jim Crow last year. It was a painful and eye-opening read, but the book made me hopeful that we could make some changes as a nation, boI read The New Jim Crow last year. It was a painful and eye-opening read, but the book made me hopeful that we could make some changes as a nation, both in our laws and our attitudes. We could end mass incarceration; we could enlighten ourselves on race; we could remake a system that criminalizes the poor and people of color.

Just Mercy is Bryan Stevenson's account of his efforts to defend poor people on death row, children who are incarcerated for life, and mentally disabled people condemed to die in prison. He has improved the lives of many people and the book is meant to be hopeful, but when I finished it, all I felt was overwhelming sadness and quite a bit of hopelessness. His stories of corruption and abuses of power and blatant disregard for human rights clarified the differences between those of us who live in privilege and those who do not. I don't know how to change this terrible vein of our society so right now I am reading and listening and learning. ...more

I am not sure what I can say about this book that hasn't already been said. Coates writes a wrenching and extremely personal letter to his teenage sonI am not sure what I can say about this book that hasn't already been said. Coates writes a wrenching and extremely personal letter to his teenage son in which he outlines the individual and familial and social and political consequences of living in a black body. Every American should read this. It will make you angry and frustrated and sad, and still you should take a couple of hours to read and absorb Coates' voice. I have a copy if anyone wants to borrow it....more

Ranya, Suzanne and Priscilla are mothers struggling with faith after 9/11. They startA Muslim, a Christian and a Jew walk into a New York apartment...

Ranya, Suzanne and Priscilla are mothers struggling with faith after 9/11. They start a writing project that will explain the commonalities of their religions to children, but quickly realize they share values, but not necessarily interpretations. Thus launches the Faith Club, a multi-year project in which the women read, research and explore their own faiths and share findings and questions with each other.

In some ways, this is a 4-star book. All three women confront their own stereotypes and cherished beliefs and are very honest about their journey. Unfortunately, the writing is drab. This would be an interesting choice for a book club or even a Bible study group....more

My MIL recommended this book and I am glad she did. I've always been more interested in the print side of journalism and I didn't know much about RathMy MIL recommended this book and I am glad she did. I've always been more interested in the print side of journalism and I didn't know much about Rather's career, but this is more than just "Memoir of Stories I Covered." Rather covers the history of CBS television news and what he sees as its downfall after the network was purchased by Viacom.

Rather explains the chain of reporting that led to his CBS exclusive regarding Pres. George W. Bush and his military service (or lack thereof) during the Vietnam War. Viacom's corporate executives fought to keep the story off the air, then blamed the reporters after the story ran and the Bushies got angry. From Rather's perspective, he and other longtime correspondents were fired or otherwise removed not because their reporting was false but because CBS was less concerned with truth and more concerned with its corporate image vis a vis the Republican Party.

Some reviewers cast Rather as whiny. He does have several moments of "they were out to get me" and "I really trusted that person," but I also agree that Rather was screwed. He has a strong ego--it would be hard to do his job otherwise--but he also wanted to get the true story to the American people and was stifled by corporate TV. I would willingly read the other side of the story but his evidence is damning.

A few minor quibbles--the writing is choppy in places and a few news stories aren't explained well. For example, Rather explains how Rep. Charlie Wilson got involved with the Soviet war in Afghanistan, but lets the story dangle and assumes the reader is familiar with Wilson's story. Extra points because I only found a couple of small typos; it appears someone actual copyedited this book.

Recommended for people who hate corporatized news or are interested in the history of CBS, Rather or TV news. ...more